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Conflict in Syria

Only Syrians can decide on who will lead their country, says Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister said this Russia maintained this principled stance and did not change it depending on momentary considerations

MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. Only Syrians can decide on what kind of a country they should live in and who should stand at the head of it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview that Izvestia daily published on Friday.

He said this Russia maintained this principled stance and did not change it depending on momentary considerations.

"Resolution 2254, which the UN Security Council passed unanimously, remains a key element of the international legal basis for peace settlement in Syria," Lavrov said. "It determines the priority guidelines for the multilateral efforts in Syria and gives international legal weight to collective steps to arrange talks between the Syrian government and the entire spectrum of the Syrian opposition."

Simultaneously, vistas towards formation of a broad antiterrorist front steered by the UN are opening now. This front could rely on everyone who oppose terror and include the Syrian Army.

"Resolution 2254 reflects our principled stance on the ways to untangling the Syrian crisis," Lavrov said. "It suggests that the Syrian people alone has the right to determine its future without any interference from the outside and it fully applies to President Bashar Assad’s destiny."

"Our line is not subjected to momentary changes," he said. "I’d like to reiterate that only the Syrian citizens have the power to decide on what kind of a country they should live in and who should stand at the head of it.".

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Sergey Lavrov Syria Syrian conflict

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